In a decisive crackdown on criminal activity, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has dismantled a notorious vandalism ring operating in Uyo, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a trove of stolen items.
Acting on credible intelligence, officers from the Command stormed Ndiya Street, off Aka Road, on Sunday, June 29, 2025, at about 11:46 a.m., where suspected vandals were caught in the act. Upon sighting the police, the suspects made a dash for freedom, but one of them, identified as Inem Essien Jimmy, a native of Aka Offot village, was swiftly apprehended by the alert officers.
Hours later, the dragnet closed in on a second suspect, Uduak Abasi Ekere, from Ikot Itina village in Etinan LGA, who was arrested at Ebiare Afiat Lane, also off Aka Road, around 3:40 p.m. His arrest came after an intensive manhunt initiated by the Command’s investigators.
During interrogation, Uduak Abasi allegedly confessed that a man known only as Michael—believed to be the primary receiver of stolen goods—regularly purchased vandalized items from them. Michael is currently at large, and the police say efforts are in top gear to track him down and bring him to justice.
A meticulous search of the area where the vandals had operated yielded a staggering collection of stolen items, which the police believe were stripped from multiple theft scenes across the city. The recovered items include:
- Two industrial oxygen gas cylinders
- One SUMEC Fireman 3000 generator
- One Fireman 1800 generator
- One 12.5kg gas cylinder
- One full mechanic toolbox
- Two wheelbarrows
- One 4kg gas cylinder
- One aluminium car wheel
- One Coca-Cola branded metal stand
- One tile cutter
- One solar panel
- Several aluminium profile offcuts
- A variety of copper and aluminium electric cables
- Six iron rods
- One Haojue tricycle tailboard
- One sack filled with mechanic spanners
- Two car jacks
- A portrait photograph
The police say the volume and nature of the items indicate the existence of a well-organized syndicate with clear links to illegal resale operations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, has praised the proactive approach of the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to stamping out crime in all its forms.
“This arrest is a clear message to criminal elements that Akwa Ibom will not be a safe haven for illegal activities. We are coming for all of them,” CP Azare said.
He further urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements and unknown faces in their neighborhoods. “We depend on you as our eyes and ears. Together, we can build a safer Akwa Ibom,” he added.
The Command has confirmed that both arrested suspects will be charged to court as investigations continue into the full scope of the criminal network. Meanwhile, the manhunt for the elusive Michael and other potential accomplices remains active.
Speaking on behalf of the Command, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, stressed the importance of community policing and lauded the informant who tipped off the police about the illegal activity.
“The public must understand that their information could be the game-changer in the war against crime. We encourage everyone to speak up and work with law enforcement to protect our communities,” DSP John said.
This latest success adds to a growing list of operations executed by the Akwa Ibom State Police Command in recent months as they continue to intensify their clampdown on criminal gangs, especially those involved in theft, vandalism, and illegal trade of stolen goods.
As the case unfolds, residents of Uyo and beyond are watching with keen interest, hopeful that justice will be served and that law and order will prevail.
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